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(Source-Lena Bourne Fish, East Jaffrey, NH)

Originally a poem by Charles Carryl, this song was sung by children in schools at the beginning of the 20th century. We're not quite sure about the origin of the first two verses in Mrs. Fish's version. Out of all the source singers that I had listened to, Mrs. Fish was my favorite. She sang with exuberance and a confidence that came through in the recordings. She contributed over 150 songs to the Flanders Collection and also sang for collectors Anne and Frank Warner. This song grabbed my attention with the line, “I'm off to my love with a boxing glove”.

lyrics

A new ship lies anchored in the bay
While the captain and mate did dine
And hearty was the grog that filled their mugs
But one thing disturbed their minds
At the mariners’ inn while they both sat in
and they thought it quite unkind
For amid their cheers they would often hear
A walloping window blind

Chorus:
So blow you winds high ho
A roving I will go
I’ll stay no more on England’s shore
So let the music play
I’m off on the morning train
I’ll cross the raging main
For I’m off to my love with the boxing gloves
Ten thousand miles away

Said the captain to the mate it must be fate
For our ship is un-named you know
And the walloping blind disturbs my mind
When the raging winds doth blow
To hell with fate said the sturdy mate
Such trifles we will not mind
O'er the waves we’ll skip and we’ll name our ship
The Walloping Window Blind

Now a capitol ship for an ocean trip
Is the Walloping Window Blind
No gale that blew disturbed her crew
Or troubled the captain’s mind
The man at the wheel was said to feel
Contempt for the wind that blow.
For it often appeared when the gale had cleared
That he'd been in his bunk below.

The bosun and the mate were very sedate,
Yet fond of amusement too;
So they played hopscotch with the starboard watch
While the captain tickled the crew.
And the gunner we had was apparently mad
For he'd sit on the after-rail,
And fire salutes with the captain's boots
In the teeth of a blowing gale.

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Debra CowanShrewsbury, Massachusetts

Singer Debra Cowan performs a cappella and with guitar, interpreting a wide range of folk songs. Debra has two acclaimed
solo recordings to her credit, and her third, “Fond Desire Farewell” was produced by former Fairport Convention drummer Dave Mattacks. A former California resident, she now resides in Massachusetts and tours all over North America and the United Kingdom....more